TEESSIDE long jump star Chris Tomlinson believes he can break his British record at next month’s Aviva World Trials and UK Championships in Birmingham.

The 27-year-old won silver at the World Indoor Championships in Valencia last year and is determined to add a major outdoor medal to his haul, with the IAAF World Championships in Berlin in August his major goal.

And a winning performance at the three-day meeting beginning at the Alexander Stadium on July 12 is a vital part of that quest.

“It’s very important to win the trials and get on the plane for the World Championships,” said Tomlinson.

“I went into the (Olympic) trials last year but I had a hard time through injury.

“That lasted for a number of months and I was injured for the indoor season this year as well but now I’m feeling pretty good and things are going well.”

Earlier this year Tomlinson and his actress wife Lucia moved from Teesside to London, where he joined fellow long jumper and European silver medalist Greg Rutherford at his Brunel training base, and the rivalry between the two continues to provide inspiration.

Tomlinson said: “Having Greg around is an incentive to do better. We are training partners but also big rivals. He loves competing and I love competing so, as a result, we bring out the best in one another.”

Last year injury put paid to Tomlinson’s chances of a podium finish at the Olympics in Beijing.

But now, with those worries behind him, the Middlesbrough man believes he has got what it takes to come home from the World Championships with a medal.

Tomlinson realises that means he will have to jump beyond his British record of 8.29 metres, with former Olympic champion Dwight Phillips laying down a marker of 8.74m in Oregon, USA earlier this month.

“A few weeks ago, I would have been right in there,” said Tomlinson.

“Now a couple of guys have gone 8.60-8.70 metres.

“That’s big, big, big jumping. I’ve certainly got the potential this year to go 8.40-8.50 metres but it’s a matter of me actively doing it now competitively. I’ve basically got to break the British record.

“I’ve been going eight metres without hitting the board and I’ve got to be looking to improve that significantly.”

With three victories under his belt already this season, including two beyond the eight-metre mark, Tomlinson is determined to take advantage of his run of form and maintain his winning ways.

Tomlinson added: “I’ve had a number of victories already this season and cleared eight metres, which is always very nice.

“Certainly by the time of the trials I hope to be moving it on and cracking some really big distances.”